ALC Softball wins record 30th game with sweep of Johnson & Wales Wildcats

Pippa Passes, Ky: The Alice Lloyd Lady Eagles softball crew returned home on April 17^th to face NCAA DIII foe Johnson C Wales University (6-26) The Bluegrass bombers continued their blistering play, winning for the 21^st time in 22 games, running their record to 30-12. This establishes a new record for wins in a season.

April 17th

Game 1 (Five Innings)

Alice Lloyd-10: Johnson &Wales-0

The Lady Eagles exploded out of the gates and took the series opener.in a 1-hit shutout.

The good-vibes began immediately when Mackinzie Newport (CF) opened with a triple. After Jordan Rakes (LF) drove her in with a single (1-0), she also trotted home on a monster homerun from Mckenzie Orfield (3B). Quickly, the hosts led 3-0. Before the inning was over, a Chloe Taylor (2B) single and Abby Maynard (DP) double would plate another pair of runs. The inning finally ended with the hosts on top 5-0.

That held until the bottom of the third. At that point, Kinna Justice (P) singled in a run (6-0) and a wild pitch delivered another teammate. Now, the scoreboard read 7-0.

In their next-at-bat, the Pippa Passes Posse combined an RBI single from Arin Rife (1B) with a costly 2-run error from the visiting Wildcats to run the score to 10-0. The North Carolina squad would then go down in the fifth to hand the blue and white the shutout victory.

At the plate, Rife, Newport, and Rakes each smacked 2 hits while Orfield and Whitney Lippert (C) both delivered 2 runs-batted-in. Orfield providing the games four-bagger.

On the mound, Justice continued her excellent season. In the first inning, she gave up a single, that was nearly nabbed by a diving Orfield, and administered a pair of walks, but no runs. However, from there, she was flawless, allowing no more hits or walks. On the day. she took the complete game shutout, allowing 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 walks, with 2 strikeouts. 

The Lady Eagles dominated the hitting-battle, 12-1 and committed less errors, 2-1.  

GAME 2 (Seven Innings)

Alice Lloyd-6: Johnson &Wales-1

The Caney Creekers struck first and remained in control to earn their eighth consecutive victory.

The Bluegrass bunch sprinted ahead in the second inning, as singles from Lippert, Justice (DP), Shana Ray (RF), and Newport led to a trio of runs (3-0).

In the third, JW was gifted a pair of runs on a pair of errors from the hosts to dent the scoreboard and gain ground (3-2). Fortunately, the hosts would quickly make amends.

In their next at-bat, ALC combined a Rakes single, Orfield double, and Rife sacrifice to make that up, and pull ahead 5-2.

Finally, in the Eagle fifth, Brooke Baker (SS) reached on an error and swiped second base. She then raced home on a single from Lippert to set the score 6-2.

Over the final pair of innings, the Tar Heel squad would line a single in each, but swiftly go down in order from there to hand "The Pass" the well-deserved victory.

Newport and Ray both stroked 3 hits while Lippert and Rakes added a pair. Newport paved the way 2 RBIs.

On the mound, Rife went the distance to take the win as she tossed a 6-hitter. She gave up 2 earned runs with 5 K's and 2 walks

The Eagles led in hits 13-6, but their 2 errors handed the Wildcats their only runs on the day.